BMW X1 used car review

It's more about on-road style than off-road capability but this city-sized SUV kick-started a new class.

BMW X1 used car review

04 July 2014David Morley

On the basis that BMW invented the concept of a prestige compact car with its original 3-Series back in the 1970s, it stands to reason that it should be the first brand to treat us to a prestige compact SUV.

Which is exactly what happened in 2010 when the first BMW X1 arrived in showrooms.

Okay, so it was a logical (stay with us) progression of BMW’s existing X5 and X3 SUV hierarchy, but it remained that the really small SUV market had been lacking a prestige offering.

Like most SUVs – and all BMW’s cross-over vehicles – the X1 was more about good road manners than anything to do with off-roading and to that end, it was a more nimble, flatter cornering device than most of its competition.

And that intended usage also makes the lack of all-wheel-drive on some models less of a crisis than it may have looked.

2011 BMW X1

Why, for instance, would you bother with the extra weight, complexity and cost of all-wheel-drive if the car is aimed at the bitumen in the first place?

That said, BMW does sell a lot of cars in Europe where snow and ice are winter realities, so there was also an all-wheel-drive version as well.

That makes it very important to know what you’re buying and whether it’s a two or four-wheel-drive X1.

The simplest check is one of the badge on the side: If the badge says `sDrive’ you’re looking at a rear-wheel;-drive car; if it’s `xDrive’ then it’s all-wheel-drive.

The best buys right now are the pre-facelift models which were sold here from late 2010 to about the end of 2012 as these represent the best value thanks to depreciation.

Like many BMW models, the option list is long and features many zeroes, but even the basic line-up takes some studying.

The range started with the X1 sDrive18i which, as the badge suggests, is a rear-drive-only model that got a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol for 110kW and performance that was only ever adequate.

A six-speed manual was standard, but most will be fitted with the optional six-speed automatic.

Oh, and if you want an X1 with the excellent eight-speed automatic, you’ll have to save up for a post-facelift example.

Next step up the ladder with the sDrive20d which got a turbo diesel engine of 2.0-litres, 130kW of power and much more torque than the little petrol engine.

Then came the first all-wheel-drive version which was the same driveline as the 20d but with an `xDrive’ badge and a bigger price-tag.

Next was the xDrive23d which still used a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, but with a pair of turbochargers for 150kW and even more torque, which is quite an amazing result for a 2.0-litre diesel.

Those who wanted more performance form their X1 but didn’t want the hassle and potential mess of diesel power, the X1 xDrive25i was the answer.

With its 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder, the 25i gave 160kW of power and lots of smoothness and character.

So, it’s absolutely critical you know what you’re looking at when shopping and make sure you take into account all the factory options as these can have a big effect on the price of a used BMW.

Although it’s badged as an X1, the little SUV is not based on BMW’s 1-Series. Rather, it’s a modified 3-Series station-wagon platform and a few quality problems have shown up over time.

During the test drive, listen for rattling and clunking form the rear doors.

This is a complaint from some owners, but dealers seem to be able to fix it satisfactorily.

Make sure the smooth, shiny plastic surfaces that comprise the interior aren’t scratched and scuffed either.

As with any upmarket vehicle with lots of options and equipment, make sure it all works properly.

It’d also worth sticking a torch under the car and making sure that no previous dimwit has connected the butch styling with any off-roading abilities and gone bush.

Bashed floorpans and scrapes on the exhaust and suspension parts are a giveaway that the vehicle has been abused.

As the car was road-biased and designed to appeal to keener drivers, the tyres were critical to how an X1 will feel now.

Make sure any replacement tyres are up to the standard of the originals and be prepared to put up with some ride-quality trade-offs in cars with the optional 18-inch wheels and low-profile tyres.

Like many European brands, the X1 can be hard on brake pads and may seem like it creates more brake dust than some cars.

This dust is corrosive, too, so it needs to be cleaned off those big, expensive alloy wheels.

BMW issued a couple of recalls for the X1, the first being for a potentially faulty brake vacuum booster that could fail through a lack of lubrication form the factory.

If that happened, brake effort would be increased and features such as brake-assist may not have worked properly.

The second recall was for a poor wiring connector which, if it failed, could take out important electrical circuits in the vehicle, including engine power and the electrically-assisted power-steering.

Newer examples of the X1 may still have some factory warranty remaining which is a very comforting thing to buy with a second-hand car.

But the warranty will only be honoured (generally) if the car in question has a complete and up-to-date service handbook. Check it carefully for gaps in the car’s servicing.

Drives more like a sporty car than a lumbering SUV. Steers well at speed.

Dislikes:

Not exactly huge inside.

Eight-speed auto only on newer, more expensive model.

Base-model petrol is a bit under-done.

Any SUV is a compromise of sorts.

Competitors:

Range Rover Evoque – Some love the Freelander-based Evoque for its style. Others can’t fathom its small interior and poor vision. Noise levels and refinement are brilliant, but what do you do with it? 3/5

Audi Q3 – More like a BMW X3 in size, the Audi is still a good option. Good diesel engines and all-wheel-drive option. Two-wheel-drive version is actually front-drive. Very liveable interiors. 3.5/5

VW Tiguan – Sized similarly to Q3 and, like the Audi, base-model two-wheel-drive is front-drive. Like all VAG cars with DSG transmissions, a close health-check is mandatory. 3/5